Two step smart key start system

ABSTRACT

An ignition start system in which authentication of a key is carried out twice, first to activate the ignition switch to allow starting the engine and second at the time prior to moving the vehicle from a parked position. The two step authentication prevents driving off in a car that has been started without having the key for security purposes and also to avoid inconvenient situations that can otherwise occur.

PRIORITY

The present application is a continuation of co-pending application U.S.patent application Ser. No. 16/566,618, filed Sep. 10, 2019, which iscontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/185,459, filed Nov.9, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,442,397 issued Oct. 15, 2019, which is acontinuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/959,029, filed Apr. 20,2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,189,441 issued on Jan. 29, 2019, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/036,250, filed Sep.25, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,077,021 issued on Sep. 18, 2018, which isa divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/858,071, filed Aug.17, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,548,645, issued on Oct. 1, 2013, whichclaims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/234,434 filedon Aug. 17, 2009, all of which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entirety and made part of the present application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention concerns keyless automobile lock and ignition systems(often referred to as smart key) in which the presence of a key fob iselectronically detected by means of a radio pulse transponder in the keyfob and antennas in the car body. In these systems, the car is unlockedautomatically when the handle is operated or a button pushed. Locking isaccomplished in a similar way or by simply walking away.

The ignition switch is also operated without the need to insert a keyinto the ignition switch lock by the same wireless detection of thepresence of the key fob in the passenger compartment. The systemneutralizes the electronic immobilizer usually now included inautomobile electronics and allows starting the car by simply pushing abutton or turning the ignition switch without the need to insert a keyinto the switch.

While very convenient, this system creates possibilities of securityrisks and also allows inconvenient situations to inadvertently arise.

For example, if after starting, the driver momentarily exits the car andsomehow leaves the key fob somewhere before reentering the car, he orshe can drive off, and then after reaching a destination cannot restartthe car since the key fob is not present. A manual operation using thekey is also not possible if the key is left with the fob.

While a warning message is displayed on the instrument panel in somedesigns, indicating that the key fob is not detected by the system, itis easy to not notice this displayed message which may be blocked by thesteering wheel.

In another common situation which could be encountered, if a driverallows a valet attendant to drive off with the car, if the driver doesnot give the key fob to the attendant, the attendant will be unable tostart the car when retrieving the car until after obtaining the key fobfrom the driver, slowing the return of the car to the driver.

Also, if the valet forgets to surrender the key fob to the owner, theowner can unknowingly drive away without the key fob and subsequently beunable to restart the car with the car (which usually is left runningwhile the attendant gets out and the owner enters the car).

Security risks can also arise, as where a car is inadvertently leftrunning (which can be very quiet and nearly undetectable in many cars)and with the doors unlocked, such that a thief can simply enter anddrive off in the car.

With newer locking systems, it is easy for a driver to think the car hasbeen locked when in fact the locking has not been accomplished.

Again, beep cues or visual displays can easily be missed, particularlywhen a driver is in a hurry.

It is also known to lock the transmission shift lever until the key fobis authenticated by the smart key controller system as described in U.S.2009/0151412A1. However, once authentication has occurred in thatsystem, the transmission shift lever can be freely operated such thatthe above problems are still encountered.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide akeyless or smart key system of the type described which has a fail-safefeature that insures that the above described inconvenience or securityrisk situations are positively prevented without the need for particularattentiveness of the driver the location of the key fob on to relatedbeep cues or displays.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above recited object and other objects which will be understood upona reading of the following specification and claims are achieved by atwo-step detection authentication process in which after the presence ofthe key fob initially authenticated, the ignition button or switch isactivated for keyless starting as in prior systems. A shift leverinterlock is also included, controlled by the keyless system controller,positively preventing shifting of the transmission shift lever into adrive gear unless the owner's key-fob is detected by the system as beingpresent within the passenger compartment at the time the driver pressesthe brake pedal in order to allow shifting into a drive gear.

Thus, if the car is started and idling in park (or neutral), the shiftlever cannot be shifted into a drive gear, positively preventing drivingthe car away unless the key-fob is detected and authenticated by thesystem at the same time as the shifting attempt is made.

This positively prevents the inconvenient situations and security risksarising from a car being able to be driven away without the key-fobbeing located in the passenger compartment of the car, such that theattentiveness of the operator is not required in order to insure thatsuch situations will not arise.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a pictorial diagrammatic view of a portion of the passengercompartment of an automobile with keyless system components includedaccording to the present invention being depicted diagrammatically.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of components of the keyless system depictingthe two step detection authentication operation of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, certain specific terminology willbe employed for the sake of clarity and a particular embodimentdescribed in accordance with the requirements of 35 USC 112, but it isto be understood that the same is not intended to be limiting and shouldnot be so construed inasmuch as the invention is capable of taking manyforms and variations within the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to FIG. 1, a portion of the interior of an automobilepassenger compartment 10 is shown in fragmentary form.

A center console mounted transmission shift lever 12 is provided inconventional fashion. A dash mounted starter button 14 is provided (or aturnable ignition switch which could also accept a key). A keylesssystem controller 16 is depicted diagrammatically which detects thepresence of a coded key fob 18 in the passenger compartment 10 as by oneor more car body mounted antennas 20 receiving transponder coded pulsecodes transmitted by the key-fob 18 when interrogated by the smart keycontroller 16 in the well known manner.

The system controller 16 enables the ignition push button 14 when thepresence of the correctly coded key fob 18 in the compartment 10 isdetected and authenticated, such that the car can be started by merelypushing the button 14 without the use of a key, in the well knownmanner.

According to the present invention, a transmission lever lock 22 isprovided, such as described in U.S. 2009/0151412A1, which positivelyprevents movement of the transmission selector or shift lever 12 to adrive position unless the brake pedal 24 is depressed and also unlessthe key fob 18 in the passenger compartment 12 is again detected andauthenticated by the system controller 16.

According to the invention, such detection-authentication necessary toshift the lever 12 is not carried out at the same time as when theignition detection-authentication is carried out. This secondauthentication is carried out at the time the brake pedal is pressed anda signal is generated and sent by a sensor 26 which detects the pressingof the brake pedal 24 to the smart key controller 22, which carries outa second detection authentication of the key fob 18 prior to operatingthe release of the transmission lever lock actuator 22.

Thus, if the key fob 18 is removed from the passenger compartment 10after the car is started, the vehicle will not be able to be operated asthe transmission lever 12 will remain locked even when the brake pedalis pressed.

This prevents operation of the vehicle even after the key fob 18 hasbeen initially authenticated and the car started and running, and thuspositively prevents operation of the vehicle unless the key fob 18 isauthenticated as being within the passenger compartment.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicle, comprising: a controller comprising aprocessor configured to authenticate a code; and a vehicle movementactivator, wherein the processor is configured to perform a first codeauthentication when the vehicle is started enabling movement of thevehicle out of a park position and a second code authentication enablingmovement of the vehicle out of a park position after the vehiclemovement activator was previously moved from a drive position to a parkposition after starting the vehicle.
 2. The vehicle of claim 1, whereinthe first code authentication comprises detection of a mobile devicewithin a passenger compartment of the vehicle.
 3. The vehicle of claim1, wherein the second code authentication comprises detection of amobile device within a passenger compartment of the vehicle.
 4. Thevehicle of claim 1, wherein the second code authentication comprisesdetection of a mobile device within a passenger compartment of thevehicle when a person is within the passenger compartment of thevehicle.
 5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the code authenticated forthe first code authentication is the same as the code authenticated forthe second code authentication.
 6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein thecode authenticated for the first code authentication differs from thecode authenticated for the second authentication.
 7. The vehicle ofclaim 4, wherein the mobile device communicates wirelessly with acontroller.
 8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the controller preventsoperation of a vehicle movement activator when a brake system isactivated with the vehicle started in the absence of the second codeauthentication.
 9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle movementactivator is inoperable after starting the vehicle and deactivation of abrake system to prevent movement of the vehicle after the vehicle isinitially started and the brake system is activated by a user without amobile device being detected in a vehicle passenger compartment afterstarting the vehicle.